Meat-chopper.



, T. H. WALKER,

MEAT CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED M3 10, 1912.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

Inventor Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOM H. WALKER, OF THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WALTERE. GRAIGMILES, OF THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA.

MEAT-CHOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17,1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TOM H. WALKER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Thomasville, in the county of Thomasand State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Meat-Chopper, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to meat choppers or tenderers.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved meat tendererwhich will effectually pre-masticate the meat operated on thereby to notonly render same more readily digested but to also make the cooking orboiling thereof easier, quicker and more thorough.

Further objects are to provide for details in the construction of thechopper or tenderer which will make it more eificient in use.

WVith the above and other objects in view this invention is embodied inthe novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts ashereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, and inwhich,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the meat chopper. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section thereof. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of thechopper. Fig. 4 is a lateral vertical section showing the relative partsin operative position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 5 designates a suitable basewhich has a pair of upstanding standards 10 at one end thereof and anupper recess 9 at the intermediate portion thereof. This base as well asthe other parts of the chopper are made of suitable material. Angle ironbrackets 7 are arranged at the front and rear of the recess 9 and aplurality of longitudinal bars 8 are embedded in the upper edges of theupright flanges of the brackets 7 in a spaced relation with each other,the said bars having their extremities engaged in slots provided in theedges of the flanges. Bolts 16 are passed through the upright flangesadjacent their edges and pierce the ends of the bars 8, thus removablysecuring the said bars in position. The other flanges of the brackets 7are secured to the base 5 by bolts 21 or in any other suitable manner.

A longitudinally split lever 17 in which the knives of the chopper aresecured has a pair of projecting arms 11 pivoted to the upper ends ofthe standards 10 thus swingsections into which the upper ends of aplurality of knives are adapted to be inserted and secured. The knivesor teeth are designated at 13 and each knife has a straight upper end,the knives being flat, and

in the opposite edges of the upper ends of e the knives are arrangednotches 19 and an intermediate aperture. The lower end of each knife 13is tapered and sharpened. These knives are arranged in rows being setedge to edge and the alternate rows are in a staggered position, thusbringing the apertures in the knives of one row into alinement with theadjacent notches of the knives in the adjacent row. Between each of theadjacent rows and at the upper ends of the knives 13 are disposed shimstrips 22 which serve to space the respective rows of knives apart. Aplurality of pins 18 are passed through the apertures in the upper endsof the knives and the notches therein and which also pierce the shimstrips 22 to interlock the various knives in position, two of theintermediate pins being in the form of bolts 14: which are passedthrough the sections of the lever for holding or clamping the sectionstogether over the knives and for securing the knives to the lever. Theknives are thus secured to the lever 17 and by removing the bolts 14 thesections of the lever may be spread apart and the knives may be removedfrom the said member, and by further removing the respective pins 18 anyor all of the knives can be replaced should any of the knives becomeworn or broken. A wire spring 15 is arranged between the arms 11 and thestandards 10 to give an upward tension to the lever 17 thereforenormally holding it in raised position.

A plate 6 is arranged over the recess 9 and has a plurality of slots 20therein through which the lower sharpened ends of the depending knives13 are arranged to pass upon the lever 17 being depressed. In beingswung down the knives 13 pass between the bars 8 for the purposehereinafter set forth. The knives 13 are of a thickness greater than thewidths of the slots 20, and the lower ends of the knives are sharpenedso as to enter and seat within the said slots. In this manner, theknives are prevented from passing excessively through the said slots soas to strike the base, and the meat is also more effectively perforatedwhen the lower ends of the knives are seated within the slots, for thereason that the meat is prevented from being forced through the slotsahead of the knives. The flanges of the angle iron brackets which aresecured to the base overlap or overlie the corresponding edges of themeat supporting plate in order to retain the said plate in position andpermit same to be slid laterally off of the base.

In use, the meat or other matter to be operated upon, is placed on theplate 6 and the lever 17 is depressed by means of the hand-hold 12 thuscausing the knives 13 to be pressed downward to numerously perforate orpierce the meat, the lower ends thereof passing through the plate 6.Then upon the lever 17 being released the spring 15 throws same upwardto retract the knives 13 above the lower edges of the bars 8, the bars 8preventing the meat from rising with the knives and thus causing theknives to be withdrawn from the meat, the meat dropping onto the plate 6either for repeated operation or for removal. If desired the meat can beoperated upon several times to cut it into numerous pieces which allhang together in a spongy state. The meat by this treatment ispremasticated and the juice and blood is retained therein and the samelever pivoted thereto and having an opening therein, a plurality ofteeth arranged in rows and set edge to edge, the alternate rows being instaggered relation and the lower ends of the teeth being tapered,complementing notches being provided in the edges of the teeth at theirupper ends and intermediate apertures being provided in the teeth attheir upper ends, shim strips disposed between the rows of teeth attheir upper ends, and a plurality of pins passing through the respectiveapertures and complementing notches and piercing the shim strips, theupper ends of the teeth being disposed within the said opening and someof the said pins forming securing members piercing the lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

TOM H. WALKER.

WVitnesses:

J. E. ORAIGMILES, W. E. OnAIeMILEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

